CLEVELAND, Ohio – I made some calls to find out what are some of the themes as the Browns open training camp this week.
THE BIG PICTURE
1. The Browns are not naive. They know about the great expectations surrounding the team. They know they should “be pretty good,” as one source told me. The team was 11-5 in 2020. The entire offensive unit is back and the defense has been upgraded. They won a playoff game.
2. This is not 2019 when expectations were wild after a 7-8-1 season in 2018. Unlike 2019, this team didn’t change coaches. In fact, the entire coaching staff is back – at all the major positions. These staffs are now so huge, it’s hard to keep track. Instead of a rookie head coach with Freddie Kitchens in charge, they have Kevin Stefanski entering his second year.
3. But there is some apprehension. They want the players to know “you don’t just pick up where you left off.” Stefanski is pounding away on the point of how about half of the teams that made the playoffs in 2018 and 2019 missed the playoffs the following year.
4. In 2019 and 2020, five teams that made the postseason the previous year failed to return. In 2018, seven of 12 failed to make it back to the playoffs.
5. NFL.com’s Adam Rank uncovered this fact: “The 2020 Browns were the eighth team in the Super Bowl era to break a playoff drought of at least 14 seasons (it had been 17 years for Cleveland), with one of the most recent examples being the 2017 Buffalo Bills. But here’s the bad news: The previous seven teams all missed the playoffs following their drought-busting campaigns.”
6. If there is a slogan for this training camp and season, it’s this: Take Nothing For Granted.
ABOUT BAKER MAYFIELD
1. In the rearview mirror of time, Baker Mayfield’s struggles in 2019 was one of the best things to happen to his career. The Browns believe it humbled and matured him. Fingers of blame for the 6-10 record in 2019 can be pointed in many directions. But one of the culprits was Mayfield.
2. The frustrations of 2019 set up Mayfield to be open to some significant changes demanded by Stefanski and offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt. Mayfield’s footwork was altered. The running game became more important. Mayfield had to earn the trust of the coaches, which he did over time.
3. The coaching staff is excited about Mayfield because of the relationship that has been developed. They also see how Mayfield has learned to be a winning QB. In his fourth season – and first with the same head coach and offense for two years in a row – the Browns believe Mayfield can be better. They have been impressed with his maturity.
Center Nick Harris will received a lot of time at center during training camp. Matt Starkey, Cleveland Browns
WHAT I’M HEARING
1. First-rounder Greg Newsome II has an excellent chance to win the starting cornerback job across from Denzel Ward. Being a first-round pick, expectations were high for Newsome when the Browns had their spring OTAs. But his athleticism and maturity (he’s only 21) surpassed what they expected to see from a rookie.
2. The real test for Greedy Williams comes now when the players are tackling and hitting each other. He seems to finally be over the nerve damage to his shoulder that wiped out the 2020 season. But will the shoulder hold up under physical contact?
3. Nick Harris will receive a lot of time at center. The fifth-rounder in 2020 from Washington had some good moments in the 2020 training camp. The same was true in the spring OTAs. J.C. Tretter is the starting center at 31 and in the final year of his contract ($9.8 million, according to overthecap). Harris could move into that starting spot in 2022.
4. A third-round pick in 2020, Jordan Elliott is another player the Browns are anxious to see in camp. They believe the defensive tackle can push Andrew Billings or Malik Jackson for a starting spot. If not, he should be a key rotation player on the defensive line. Ohio State rookie Tommy Togiai also is intriguing.
5. We hear a lot about starting defensive ends Jadeveon Clowney and Myles Garrett for good reason. Both have made Pro Bowls and are former No. 1 picks. But the coaches think Takk McKinley can be a factor as a pass-rushing defensive end. A former first-round pick by Atlanta in 2017, McKinley has had injury problems (mostly shoulder) the previous two years. In terms of athleticism, the Browns think he can make an impact in the Joe Woods defense.
6. Rookie linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (JOK) was tremendous in the OTAs. But as one source told me that should be the case. JOK is extremely quick and athletic. Those qualities sparkle in the non-contact spring drills. JOK was projected as a first rounder, but dropped to the Browns in the second round because many teams thought the 215-pound linebacker would have problems tackling. We’ll soon find out.
7. Jacob Phillips and Grant Delpit are entering their second pro seasons. The two LSU products are healthy and have the physical ability to start. Delpit is coming off Achilles surgery and missed all of 2020. Phillips played only nine of 16 games in 2020 because of knee problems. The Browns project Delpit to start at safety. They believe Phillips can compete for a starting linebacker job. They love his tackling.
8. Offensive line coach Bill Callahan was pleased with rookie tackle James Hudson III in OTAs. The starting O-line is set, but Hudson could become a key reserve. He should play a lot in the three preseason games, especially if the fourth-rounder looks good in early practices.
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Browns playoffs shirts, hats for sale: Here’s where Cleveland Browns fans can order shirts and hats celebrating the team qualifying for the 2020 NFL playoffs.
